The Big East and Catholic 7 schools are hoping for a summer 2014 breakup, with the Catholic 7 starting their league for the 2014-15 school year, sources told ESPN.com.

Resolving these divorce proceedings could come in the next few weeks. The Big East is trying to nail down its new television contract; the league has one for football in this coming season with ESPN, but there is none for men’s basketball. NBC Sports is aggressively seeking a deal, ESPN.com reported.

Butler is among teams mentioned in a new conference as college basketball's Catholic 7 prepare to jump the Big East. (AP Photo)

NBC Sports Network has verbally offered the Big East between $20 to $23 million a year for a six-year deal to acquire the media rights for the league, ESPN.com reported. The formal offer is expected to come next week and ESPN, who current holds the Big East's media rights, will have an opportunity to match the deal, according to a report.

The Catholic 7 are closing in on a deal with Fox Sports, sources told ESPN.

Once the Catholic 7 form their own league, they also must determine other schools that they will add. Butler and Xavier have been most prominently mentioned, along with Creighton, Dayton, Saint Louis, Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth.

An ESPN source indicated that the Big East expects a legal fight with the Catholic 7 for the league name.